U.N. Relief Proves Absent in Yemen, Gulf Dashes in

Riyadh- Abdul Raqeeb Saif Fateh, who is both the minister of local administration and chairman of the Higher Committee for Relief in Yemen, confirmed that the shouldering of Gulf support works, especially the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aids, have outdone the U.N. mission in aiding the people of Yemen in desperate times.

Minister Fateh pointed out that the U.N. is completely absent on the Yemeni arena and it is remaining silent when it comes to specifying the parties standing in its way.

In a phone call interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Minister Fateh stated that since the break of the Yemeni political crisis, caused by the ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his Houthi supporting militias, Gulf countries were the first to reach out supporting the people of Yemen whether on land or by sea. “We, with the crisis escalating, have hope that the U.N. will come forth in its humanitarian relief organizations framework, according to humane standards.”

Chairman Fateh highlighted the UN’s non-existence in Yemenat a time when the governorate has been barricaded by Houthi militias for 10 months now. None but the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aids, which proved itself a reliable beacon of light in the field of humanitarian work, could reach that deprived region, Fateh added.

Minister Fateh mentioned that U.N. humanitarian relief organizations are always apologizing on the pretext of security factors. “We ask them to make an honest statement, in which they name the party that is holding up their mission in Yemen. Even if this party named is the Yemeni legitimate government”, Fateh said.

“However, we have yet not witnessed any responsiveness for the global community looking into facts taking place in Yemen.”

“It should be made very clear that parties that stand in the way of relief reaching the people are Houthi militias and pro-Saleh supporters”, Fateh went on saying.

At the end, Minister Fateh clarified that he doesn’t wish to point fingers against the U.N.

Fateh’s duties involve specifying misconduct if any humanitarian relief organization displays breach in mission work. He stressed that he would not spreading out allegations, but would rather restrict himself to collecting evidence; then he would be fully prepared to reveal details on the subject.

“We ask for the U.N. to exercise its humanitarian work according to international law, and to name sides standing in the way of its humanitarian mission”, Fateh stated.

Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities. Launched in London in 1978, Asharq Al-Awsat has established itself as the decisive publication on pan-Arab and international affairs, offering its readers in-depth analysis and exclusive editorials, as well as the most comprehensive coverage of the entire Arab world.